Mountains and music and myths and maestros? Sign us up!
With the world-renowned Vail Dance Festival and various other performances like comedy and magic shows, the Vail Valley Foundation has a packed calendar with no shortage of events to keep you entertained all season long.
Here are six performances the VVF is especially excited for this summer:
1. Myths by Legends – July 29, Vail Dance Festival at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
On the fourth night of the esteemed Vail Dance Festival, Myths by Legends will bring ancient myths to life in a breathtaking dance performance on the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater stage. Choreographed by an incredibly talented group featuring George Balanchine, José Limón, Marius Petipa, and Jerome Robbins, Myths by Legends will ignite your inner imagination and encourage you to dream big. The loaded program includes Roman Mejia debuting in Balanchine’s Apollo, Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun, and many other performances you won’t want to miss.
What we love: This performance will be a one-of-a-kind take on classic stories we all know and love, but this won’t be your parent’s average ballet performance. These artists are the Mikaela Shiffrins and Shaun Whites of the dance world, so if you are looking to see star power and creativity, this is the night to attend! We feel incredible lucky to have these power-house artists in Vail and we can hardly wait for the Vail Dance Festival to arrive.
2. Hand Turkey – August 1, Town of Eagle ShowDown Town presented by Alpine Bank at the Eagle Town Park
Self-described as a hybrid of funk, jazz, and soul-pop, Hand Turkey will be the perfect group to kick off August. The band features seven members and plays original groovy tunes — excellent for a free concert at the beautiful Eagle Town Park. Entering their fifth year together, Hand Turkey hails from Fort Collins and will provide a high energy environment fit for dancing on the ShowDown Town stage. Pack a picnic, bring the family, and enjoy the funky notes of a local up-and-coming group.
What we love: Hand Turkey’s music somehow manages to be both calming and fun at the same time. We love the smooth notes of a three-piece brass section, and we love when there are showstopping vocals that go along with it. We love dancing under the Colorado summer sun at a free concert with incredible music and great food, and we think that’s more than reason enough to check out Hand Turkey and ShowDown Town!
3. The Beach Boys – August 15, Amp Summer Concerts at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Achieving their first hit over 60 years ago, The Beach Boys have been a staple of the American rock scene ever since. With smashes such as “Surfin’ USA” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will take the Vail stage for the first time this August. The show is a stop on the “Endless Summer Gold” tour, the latest in a long career of touring that has landed The Beach Boys the accolade of most concerts ever by a major rock band. Experiencing such a legendary group at the beautiful Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater will be a night to remember.
What we love: We love The Beach Boys. A group of time-tested legends with hit after hit that people of all ages recognize, know, and love. The opportunity to see such an iconic show at such an intimate and jaw-dropping venue is not something we are taking for granted!
4. Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project play music from Old & In the Way – August 24, Vilar Performing Arts Center
Legendary bluegrass group Old & In the Way is celebrating a half-century of music, and the party is coming to the Vilar Performing Arts Center stage. Founding member, guitarist, and vocalist Peter Rowan will lead the way alongside The Sam Grisman Project, a band spearheaded by the son of fellow Old & In the Way founding member David Grisman. Rowan and The Sam Grisman Project will perform the roots hits of the classic group in a collaboration you will not want to miss.
What we love: Bluegrass!
“I’m excited about Peter Rowan and Sam Grisman playing Old & in the Way because it is a true roots bluegrass band that has a lot of history,” said Miah Wheeler, Director of Philanthropy at the Vilar Performing Arts Center. “It’s also what my mom listened to when I was growing up!”
5. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – September 1, Amp Summer Concerts at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss are returning to Vail to start September off right. The unpredictable tandem — Plant’s rock credentials as the lead vocalist for Led Zeppelin intertwine with Krauss’ bluegrass-country style — have racked up Grammy nominations and victories, first with their debut project Raising Sand in 2007 and more recently with their return as a duo with Raise the Roof in 2023. Any time these two superstars take the stage together it is must-see entertainment, and The Amp provides the perfect backdrop for a rocking night.
What we love: It’s Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. Period. We love that we’re able to host these two icons at The Amp for a second time. We love that the locals of Vail are so excited about this show that tickets are sold out. It will be an incredible late-summer night seeing some stars under the stars!
6. VVF’s Community Concert: JoJo and Friends – September 10, Hot Summer Nights at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Best known as a member of Widespread Panic since he joined the touring band in 1992, John “JoJo” Hermann is a wizard on the keys. Despite being born and raised in New York City, Hermann brings a signature New Orleans flair to genres ranging from blues to jazz to gospel. His unique style has earned him an impressive career as a keyboardist both as a band member and a solo act. As the final show of the free Hot Summer Nights concert series, JoJo & Friends is the perfect choice for the VVF Community Concert to cap off an incredible season of shows.
What we love: We love the upbeat, dance-inducing sound of JoJo Hermann and Widespread Panic’s songs. We also love that JoJo is bringing his creativity and his musically talented friends to jam with us in the beautiful Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. If you are a fan of jam bands, widespread panic, or just fun music, this concert will not disappoint you. And, of course, we ALWAYS love a free concert.
